By Our Correspondent, DODOMA Tanzania
A police commander in Tanzania's capital city, has been removed from her post Monday August 19 following controversial comments in which she linked an alleged gang-rape victim to sex work.
The Dodoma Regional Police Commander (RPC), Theopista Mallya, was quoted in a Tanzanian newspaper as saying the woman who is alleged to have been raped, sexually assaulted by 'Afande' (soldier) youths appeared to be engaged in prostitution.
"The investigation revealed that the youths were not acting on orders from any officers; they were merely under the influence of alcohol and drugs," Ms Mallya told Mwananchi.
"However the woman in question appeared to be engaged in sex work," she said.
Since Sunday evening the country's social media went loose, criticizing the commander following her comments posted on the platforms quoting a media outlet's interview.
Earlier this month a video appearing to show a young woman being gang-raped by five young men went viral in the East African country, prompting an outcry among the public.
The public wanted the police to take immediate lawful action against the suspects who were alleged to be executing instructions of a 'high ranking' soldier.
In the video the suspects reportedly interrogate her, forcing her to apologise to someone referred to as "afande".
As the investigation was taking long, many activists and social media users expressed outrage that a sexual assault could have been carried out on the orders of a member of the security forces.
Following a backlash and accusations that the comment minimised the woman's ordeal, Tanzania's national police force apologised and said the commander had been transferred.
"The police force would like to apologise to everyone who was touched and offended by the statement circulating in the media while monitoring is being done to find its accuracy," national police spokesperson David Misime said on Monday.
He said that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) has appointed another police commissioner to take over as Dodoma Regional Commander and transferred Mallya back to police headquarters in Dar es Salaam City.
The spokesperon said the suspects in the alleged gang rape are due to appear in court later on Monday.
It is unclear when the video was filmed but the victim was reportedly a resident of Yombo Dovya, a suburb in the country's largest city, Dar es Salaam.
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